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Canada got the last hurrah at the Celebration of Light Saturday evening, closing the three-night event with a winning display. Canada was declared the winner of the event, with Brazil and China finishing second and third, respectively.

NDP document refutes Christy Clark’s claims in TV address

B.C. premier Christy Clark is shown in a 30-minute video which was broadcast Sunday in BC, posted on the Premier's Facebook page through YouTube. The New Democratic Party has released what it is calling a reality check after Premier Christy Clark attacked the party’s record in her half-hour TV address Sunday.

VANCOUVER - The New Democratic Party has released what it is calling a reality check after Premier Christy Clark attacked the party’s record in her half-hour TV address Sunday.

“Tonight’s Christy Clark infomercial is another example of B.C. Liberal rhetoric that doesn’t match reality, and it provides yet more proof they’re out of touch, out of ideas and need to spend time out of government,” says a document posted on the NDP’s website late Sunday.

It goes on to refute claims made by Clark in the $100,000 TV spot, such as the assertion her party has increased job growth and is well positioned to eliminate the provincial debt.

The NDP claims the Liberals have the record wrong.

Since Clark announced her jobs plan in September 2011, B.C. has lost 34,800 private sector jobs, according to the NDP. The province ranks first for child poverty and has seen skills training cut by $46 million, the NDP document continues.

It goes on to attack Clark’s claim her party can curtail the provincial debt, saying the Liberals have “added $27 billion to B.C.’s debt. Eight of their 13 budgets have been deficits.”

The document also addresses Clark’s characterization of B.C. as a “have not” province under NDP leadership in the 1990s, as well as the Liberals’ claim of a booming forestry industry and Clark’s promise to “look out for our coast.”

Clark’s 30-minute TV spot Sunday strove to portray the premier as approachable, yet authoritative, as she focused on big-picture issues such as eliminating the provincial debt, stimulating the economy and defeating the NDP.

She spoke frequently of her strong leadership skills amid scenes of her alternately sipping coffee with a diverse group of supporters, speaking behind a podium or networking in the community.

Much of the TV spot focused on her plan to eliminate the provincial debt within 15 years using projected profits from sales of liquefied natural gas. Meanwhile she warned that a return to an NDP government would mean certain financial ruin for the province.

A parade of high-profile supporters, including Vancouver Canucks assistant director of player personnel Dave Babych, Lululemon CEO Christine Day and former Conservative MP Stockwell Day, made appearances to praise Clark’s economic prowess.

MLA Carole James, former leader of the B.C. NDP, said the television special added “nothing new” to the Liberals’ election strategy and even contained false statements.

“She talked about her jobs plan and didn’t mention the 30,000 jobs that have been lost since the plan has been in place,” James said. “She spent a lot of time focused on the past and then when she talked about her new commitments, and her commitments to the public, they simply aren’t true.

“So, I thought it was an interesting use of 30 minutes of television time.”

Global BC confirmed Monday that the Liberals’ TV infomercial had an average audience of 165,000 viewers provincewide, with 114,000 of those viewers living in Metro Vancouver or Vancouver Island.

The infomercial won its time slot easily, almost doubling the number of viewers attracted to reruns of The Simpsons - which usually win that half-hour period.

B.C. premier Christy Clark is shown in a 30-minute video which was broadcast Sunday in BC, posted on the Premier's Facebook page through YouTube. The New Democratic Party has released what it is calling a reality check after Premier Christy Clark attacked the party’s record in her half-hour TV address Sunday.

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